Badger Balm is now USDA-certified

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Officially Organic

Badger Balm is now USDA-certified

By Melissa Meisel
Associate Editor

The buzzwords of 2008 aren’t just “skin-loving minerals” or “anti-aging properties,” but also “certified organic.” Obtaining that official USDA commendation makes a product line stand out from the rest in the ever-expanding set of green personal care products. It also works toward boosting consumer confidence by delivering on claims and expectations for truly natural ingredients.

This month, one more marketer will enter the certified league. The W.S. Badger Company, a Gilsum, NH-based manufacturer of natural body care products, recently announced its long-awaited approval as a USDA Certified Organic Company. Badger, known for its “hardworking” line of balms, oils and lip balms, completed the complex application and inspection process in May, and was formally accepted shortly thereafter.

The W.S. Badger Company recently announced its long-awaited approval as a USDA Certified Organic Company

Effective Aug. 1, almost all products leaving the Badger facilities will carry the familiar green-and-white seal, and for consumers, this means third-party verification of the product’s purity and commitment to the environment, according to the company. Badger joins only a handful of body care companies nationwide to achieve this level of certification. The process of becoming a Certified Organic line takes years of planning, preparation and attention to detail, as everything from production facilities to shipping are inspected rigorously by official USDA inspectors.

According to Bill Whyte, chief executive officer of Badger, “The oils, butters, waxes and essential oils in our formulas come from plants that have been cultivated naturally, without the use of chemical fertilizers or toxic pesticides. In our case, it also means that no chemicals or synthetics are used in the production process or in the final product.”

The W.S. Badger Company line, first formulated in the kitchen of former carpenter Mr. Whyte’s home in 1995, has grown from a single product sold out of the back of “Badger Bill’s” green Chevy van to a line of over 50 products distributed in every state in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Taiwan, South Africa, Holland, Indonesia, The Philippines and in numerous other locations throughout the world. The Badger Balms are packaged using original artwork featuring the mascot badgers on the covers of retro painted tins. In 1999, Badger products won the prestigious “Best Overall Product Line” award at Extracts, a New York City tradeshow.

Mr. White finds it frustrating that some marketers are jumping on the green bandwagon but don’t have the credentials to back up their claims. He said, “A lot of companies call their products natural or organic, but the USDA seal ensures that you’ve met the stringent food-grade standards of the National Organic Program and you have the paper trail to back it up. Easy to say, hard to do. But if you believe in natural, this is the way to go.”

Badger’s classic lip balm sticks—available in whimsical flavors such as Vanilla Madagascar, Pink Grapefruit and Highland Mint—are now sold bearing the USDA Organic seal. In September, Badger’s line of five Cocoa Butter Lip Balms will hit the shelves bearing both USDA Organic Certification and Fair-trade Certification by way of TransFair USA. For Fall 2008, the company will also be rolling out gift sets of their popular (and now official) salves and solutions.